Palantir

Palantir refers to a fictional seeing-stone in J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth legendarium, primarily appearing in "The Lord of the Rings." In the context of the story, a palantir is a spherical, crystal-like device used for communication and seeing far-off places or events, allowing its user to perceive visions of the past, present, and future. The palantiri are powerful artifacts, but they carry inherent risks, including the potential for manipulation and overwhelming the viewer with information or visions. The term "palantir" has come to symbolize the ideas of surveillance, insight, and the dangers of wielding great power.